Let's Talk MotoGP: What Wasn't Said About Andrea Iannone's Return

You couldn't have missed it. Andrea Iannone will make his big return to MotoGP at the Malaysian Grand Prix, and this episode of his career could even continue in the event of a finale in Valencia, even if the future is more than uncertain due to the floods that are hitting this part of Spain. The last time we saw Iannone compete in a MotoGP race was in 2019, and his return to business is so much talked about that it deserves an episode of Let's talk MotoGP.

 

Who is Andrea Iannone?

 

I was thinking this, but it is possible that among my readers, some people don't know Andrea Iannone, or only know him by name. After all, it's been five years since he last started one of our Grands Prix. In addition, I think a little flashback is necessary because some people often tend to rewrite history, especially when it concerns electric drivers or those who died too early.

Long story short, Andrea Iannone is an Italian rider, three times third in the Moto2 World Championship between 2010 and 2012, former factory rider for Ducati, Suzuki and, finally, Aprilia. He is known for three distinct things. Firstly, his personality. Iannone is an assertive Italian, half bad boy, my top model. Clearly, he is an atypical character. as there are too few, even if his sulphurous posts on social networks are not to everyone's taste.

 

 

Second, his talent, which is expressed in the same way as he is on the track. As his personality suggests, he was hot-headed, often involved in big battles, and, sometimes, clashes of the same ilk. He has taken just one MotoGP victory at the 2016 Austrian Grand Prix, the first for Ducati since Casey Stoner's departure at the end of 2010. In the Ducati timeline, this is the bridge between Stoner and the Dovizioso vs Marquez years.

Third, his exclusion from the circuits. At the end of 2019, he was banned from competition for four years after testing positive for a banned substance. Doping was nothing new, but the punishment was nonetheless harsh. He was never seen again in MotoGP…until now.

 

What resilience!

 

Iannone is one of those drivers you either love or hate.. But whatever one thinks of his, let's say, very Italian attitude, it must be recognized that he has never betrayed his passion. In 2024, when his shelving ended, he found a WSBK saddle again in a second-tier Ducati team. As incredible as it may seem, he managed to win a race this season, in Aragon! His great performances allowed him to replace Fabio Di Giannantonio at Ducati VR46 for the last two rounds of this MotoGP campaign. We can't say that it is not undeserved. It was Valentino Rossi himself who contacted Iannone to do him this favor, and In my opinion, The Doctor was right.

 

The Bulega File

 

Nicolo Bulega, another Ducati rider and currently second in the WSBK world championship, was also a potential customer. But I don't understand those who preferred Bulega to Iannone.. First, Bulega has never been strong in MotoGP since he has never ridden there, unlike Iannone. Granted, Andrea is 35, but he still has the experience of the very highest level compared to Bulega, who, himself, has never played the best positions even when he was in Moto3, not to mention his disastrous stint in Moto2. In addition, Rossi thus offers Iannone – also nicknamed Maniac Joe – a way to nobly end his MotoGP career, because yes, The Italian deserved a nice exit even if he was responsible for his own early retirementResilience is rewarded, and it's a nice media coup to boot.

 

 

What to expect from his return?

 

Let's try to get out the crystal ball. What can Iannone do against the current MotoGP field? Well, not much, in my opinion. I am quite pessimistic, but not scared like some specialists are. To hear it, this opportunity would be almost dangerous as the bikes have changed since 2019, as they have become faster and more treacherous, as the level of competition has risen. Honestly, I think Iannone did not hesitate for a second, he will get through it. He can even do better than last, because he will benefit from an extremely high-performance machine compared to the Honda or Rins' Yamaha for example.

However, the ceiling is quite low. Already, because I think the current WSBK grid is the weakest ever. The level has never been so derisory since DORNA took over the matter. Do you find it normal that Andrea Iannone or Danilo Petrucci, already in decline at the time of their departure from the MotoGP championship – we will talk about it again – manage to win races against Toprak Razgatlioglu and others Nicolo Bulega? Bulega, who, himself, had proven absolutely nothing in the world championship before his accession to WSBK? The difference in level will hurt a lot, and in my mind Moto2 is a much higher league than Superbike at the moment.

 

 

Then, because Iannone, at the time of the court decision against him, was largely downgraded in MotoGP. We had already seen his best hours, they date back to 2015 or 2016. No, it's not because he was banned from the paddocks that he was going to become the new Rossi. He had an honest 2018 season on Suzuki, but already, his consistency in performance that had served him so well in 2015 was forgotten. No one expected anything from his 2019 season with Aprilia alongside Aleix Espargaro, and the latter was particularly difficult between disappointing results and injuries. He managed, sometimes, to project himself in front - I still have that Australian Grand Prix in mind - but he was no longer part of the elite. There is no objective reason to think that he could break the screen five years later, without knowing the bike, the team, the environment, etc.

I don't see him finishing last, but getting into the points will be difficult unless a miracle happens. Last year, in Sepang, Alvaro Bautista (another WSBK transfer but then reigning world champion in the discipline) finished 17th while injured. A similar result does not seem unattainable to me.. I'm curious to know what you think about the question and Andrea Iannone. So, tell me in the comments!

As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.

 

 

Cover photo: Ducati VR46